New Hope for Men with Recurring Prostate Cancer
A recent study from UCLA researchers has unveiled a promising treatment approach for men whose prostate cancer has resurfaced following earlier therapies. This method could potentially mitigate the need for hormone therapy, which is often a subsequent step in treatment.
At the annual American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conference, findings highlighted that a combination of targeted radioactive drugs with conventional radiotherapy can lead to more than double the time without disease advancement.
The study concentrated on men experiencing a specific type of cancer recurrence, where the cancer had returned with only a few isolated spots. Historically, this has been managed with a precise form of radiation known as stereotactic radiotherapy.
Reportedly, the team aimed to explore the efficacy of integrating PSMA-targeted radiotherapy, which uses a radioactive drug that zeroes in on cancer cells.
Ninety-two men participated in the trial, with half receiving just radiation treatment, while the other half underwent both the new medication along with radiation.
Those treated with the combined approach maintained an absence of cancer for a median duration of nearly 18 months, in contrast to around 7 months for those who had radiation alone.
“This is the first randomized trial demonstrating the significant slowdown of disease progression when adding PSMA-targeted radioligands to metastasis-directed radiation,” said Dr. Amar Kishan, a leading figure in the research.
Kishan emphasized one notable benefit of this strategy: it may allow patients to delay hormone therapy, which can lead to side effects like fatigue and mood swings. “We give patients more time before they need hormone therapy,” he noted. “Delaying it can be beneficial for their quality of life.”
Even with these advancements, some patients still experience a return of cancer. Kishan acknowledged, “There’s always room for improvement. There are still progressive events, so there may be ways to further optimize the treatment.”
A new drug, 177LU-PNT2002, has yet to receive FDA approval for this stage of cancer. For the time being, Kishan urges men facing the spread of prostate cancer to explore their options, particularly seeking advice from a radiation oncologist.
